Frank Brosseau
Encyclopedia
Franklin Lee Brosseau is a retired American
professional baseball
player. He played three games in Major League Baseball
as a right-handed relief pitcher
for the and Pittsburgh Pirates
. A graduate of the University of Minnesota
, where he received a B.A. degree in mathematics, Brosseau stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (81.6 kg).
Brosseau began his six-season (1966–1971) professional career as an outfielder
in the Pirates' farm system. But after batting
only .176 and .211 in successive campaigns in Class A, he converted to pitcher in 1968, and posted strong earned run average
s in both 1968 (1.88, with the Gastonia Pirates of the Class A Western Carolinas League
) and 1969 (1.90, with the York Pirates of the Double-A Eastern League). Brosseau was then recalled by Pittsburgh in September 1969 for his first taste of MLB service.
In his debut game, on September 10 at Forbes Field
, he replaced starting pitcher
Steve Blass
in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals
, with the Bucs already trailing 4–0. Brosseau gave up a run-scoring
single
to Curt Flood
, but got the final out
to limit the damage. However, in the fifth inning, he left the bases loaded
with only one out before being relieved by Bruce Dal Canton
, who then allowed two of Brosseau's runners to score. Those two earned runs would account for the only runs charged to Brosseau in his brief MLB career. Brosseau retired the New York Mets
in order in his second appearance on September 21, 1969; then, recalled from the Triple-A Charleston Charlies
in June 1971, Brosseau again faced the Cardinals and, this time, retired all five batters he faced.
All told, in 3⅔ Major League innings pitched
, he gave up three hits
, two earned runs, and two bases on balls, with two strikeouts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He played three games in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as a right-handed relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. A graduate of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, where he received a B.A. degree in mathematics, Brosseau stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (81.6 kg).
Brosseau began his six-season (1966–1971) professional career as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the Pirates' farm system. But after batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
only .176 and .211 in successive campaigns in Class A, he converted to pitcher in 1968, and posted strong earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
s in both 1968 (1.88, with the Gastonia Pirates of the Class A Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
) and 1969 (1.90, with the York Pirates of the Double-A Eastern League). Brosseau was then recalled by Pittsburgh in September 1969 for his first taste of MLB service.
In his debut game, on September 10 at Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
, he replaced starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Steve Blass
Steve Blass
Stephen Robert "Steve" Blass is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher and a current broadcast announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Playing career:Blass was born in Canaan, Connecticut...
in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, with the Bucs already trailing 4–0. Brosseau gave up a run-scoring
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
, but got the final out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
to limit the damage. However, in the fifth inning, he left the bases loaded
Bases loaded
In the sport of baseball, the bases are loaded when there is a runner on each base . This presents a great scoring opportunity for the batting team, but it also presents an easy double play opportunity for the defense. Causing the bases to become loaded is called loading the bases...
with only one out before being relieved by Bruce Dal Canton
Bruce Dal Canton
John Bruce Dal Canton , born in California, Pennsylvania, was a major league pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Atlanta Braves , and Chicago White Sox...
, who then allowed two of Brosseau's runners to score. Those two earned runs would account for the only runs charged to Brosseau in his brief MLB career. Brosseau retired the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in order in his second appearance on September 21, 1969; then, recalled from the Triple-A Charleston Charlies
Charleston Charlies
The Charleston Charlies was the name of the third and most recent Class AAA minor league baseball franchise that was located in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. The Charlies played in the International League from 1971 to 1976 as the relocated Columbus Jets franchise. In 1977 the franchise...
in June 1971, Brosseau again faced the Cardinals and, this time, retired all five batters he faced.
All told, in 3⅔ Major League innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, he gave up three hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, two earned runs, and two bases on balls, with two strikeouts.